Drinking fountain attachment for faucets



Feb. 24, 1942. A, vAN D. woR'rHlNG-roN 2,274,511

. lDRINKING FOUNTAIN ATTCHMENT FOR FAUCETSl Filed Jan. 15, 1940 lNvEN-roR Arma/d Van me/7 War/7W' /on 1? ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 24, 1942 DRINKING FOUNTAIN ATTACHMENT FOR FAUCETS Arnold Van Doren Worthington, Oakland, Calif.

Application January 15, 1940, Serial No. 313,869

6 Claims.

The invention relates to an attachment for faucets of the type commonly used in sinks, basins and the like and which provide for the discharge of a vertically directed stream of water for drinking and at the same time provide for a normal downward faucet discharge. The present application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Serial No, 195,985, filed March 15, 1938, and issued November 19, 1940, as Patent No. 2,222,273,

In my copending application aforementioned, I have illustrated, described and claimed a device which is adapted forattachrnent to the discharge spout of a conventional faucet and which is provided with upwardly and downwardly extending discharge passages arranged to provide a drinking fountain and a faucet discharge spout respectively in combination with means automatically responsive to the water ow for permitting the water to flow to the drinking fountain at relatively lowV rates of water flo-w and to close off the drinking fountain and permit the downward passage of the water at relatively higher water flow. As one of the forms illustrated in said application, I construct the body portion of the device, or at leasta part thereof, out of an elastic material such as rubber and provide such portion with an elastic tubular part which maybe quickly and easily drawn or distended over the end of Vthe faucet spout. In the present application I disclose and claim a device of the same general form with certain improvements in construction and in conjunction with improved means for manually displacing the valve to its upper seat to close off the water flow to the drinking fountain. The objects of the present invention therefore include the ease with which the device may be attached to the spout of a faucet, the improved degree of seal provided by the device on the faucet, and a simplified and positively operating construction.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following descripu tion of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing-and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawing: Figure l is a vertical sectional view of a drinking fountain attachment for faucets constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device illustrated in Figure 1 with a portion thereof shown in section and with the valve of the device in a different position.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the device taken substantially at right angles to the plane of Figure 1 as indicated by the plane of line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a rubber housing or body used in the present device.

The device illustrated in `the accompanying drawing is as above mentioned arranged to provide a combination drinking fountain and spout for faucets and consists briefly of an intake passage adapted for communication to the discharge passage of the faucet and upwardly and downwardly extending discharge passages provided by the device which are arranged to direct an upward stream of water for drinking and a downward faucet discharge stream, and means for selectively connecting each of such discharge passages with the intake passage.

In the present construction of the device, I provide a main body 8 which is preferably formed of a water impervious elastic material such as rubber and which is formed withA a laterally extending elastic tubular part 9 which may be stretched or distended over the spigot or spout end II of a conventional type faucet. The body 8 is provided with another passage I2 therethrough which in the operable attached position of the device to a faucet, is disposed in a vertical position of its longitudinal axis. The passage I2 extends completely through the body and is adapted to discharge water from the upper end I3 thereof for drinking purposes, and from the lower end I4 thereof for normal faucet discharge. Preferably, the'part 9 of the body extends transversely from the body adjacent the upper end I3 of the passage I2 and the axis of the part 9 is arranged` at substantially right angles to the axis of passage I2. Connected to the inner end of the tubular part 9 is another passage IB which curves downwardly and to the right as viewed in Figure 1 from the inner end of the part 9 and registers with a side opening I'I in the passage I2 adjacent the lower end I4 thereof. In accordance with this arrangement, water is discharged from the spout end II into the passage I6 and then through opening I'I into the vertical passage I2. Y

In accordance with the present invention I provide in the vertical passage I2 an automatic water flow responsive valve which is operative at relatively low rates of water flow to shut off the lower end I4 of the passage and direct the water upwardly to provide a drinking fountain and at relatively larger rates of water ow to shut off the upper end of the passage and permit the water to flow downwardly to provide a normal faucet discharge. The valve means here depicted and preferably used, is a spherical ball member I8 which is mounted in the vertical passage between a pair of vertically spaced valve seats I9 and 2 I. The valve is normally supported on the lower seat 2| in such relation to the side opening I1 that at a low rate of water flow, the water will pass through the opening |1 and pass the upper side of the ball and outl of the upper end of the vertical passage. The center of the ball when the latter is supported on the lower seat 2| is in somewhat elevated position over the center of the opening I1 so that as the water flow is increased, the ball will be subjected to a lifting force sufiicient to carry the same upwardly against the upper valve seat I9 and in this position of the valve the water will pass out of the lower end of the passage.

While the ball seats I9 and 2| might be formed integrally with the rubber body 3, I prefer and here show, such seats formed in a separate tube member 22 which is inserted into the passage I2 of the rubber body and is held therein as a part of the body. The tube 22 is preferably formed of metal and the upper valve seat I9 may be conveniently formed, as here shown, by enlarging the lower portion of the interior passage of the tube at the seat so as to define a shoulder thereat. The tube 22 is also preferably curved forwardly at the upper end 23 thereof and is provided with an overhanging guard 2. Water is admitted into the tube 22 through a side opening 25 therein which registers with the opening I1 of the rubber body.

The lower valve seat 2| is preferably formed, as here shown, at the upper endl of a tube or sleeve 21 inserted into the lower end of the tube 22, whereby the upper end of the tube 21 defines an annular shoulder in the interior passage of the tube 22.

Preferably, in addition to the provision for the automatic movement of the valve, means is provided for manually elevating the valve to its elevated position and which operates as a complement to and without interference with the autoy matic operation of the valve. Such a means is here provided in the form of a member 28 which is movable directly in the lower end of the tube 21 so as to engage and elevate the valve to its upper position. I prefer to construct the member 28 out of a single piece of spring wire which is provided with a looped end portion 29 inserted in an inverted position of the loop directly in the tube 21 so that the opposite sides 3| and 32 of the loop will resiliently engage against the side wall of the tube 21. The resilient expansion of the sides 3| and 32 of the loop against the inner side of the tube assist in holding the member in partially or fully elevated position and to further assist in holding the member in fully elevated position, the side 32 of the loop is curved adjacent the lower end 33 thereof, so that the same will spring or snap into place as the member is fully raised. A portion 34 of the wire is bent laterally from the end 33 of the loop, so s as to provide a convenient handle for raising and lowering of the member. Preferably, the member 28 is held against longitudinal withdrawal from the tube 21 by means of a pin 35 which extends transversely across the inside of the Llo ISO

tube 21 and is carried in diametrically aligned openings in the tube at the opposite ends of the pin. As here shown, the pin is mounted under the top cross portion 31 of the loop between the opposed sides 3| and 32 thereof, so as to support the portion 31 in the lowered position of the member. In this position the portion 31 of the loop is spaced just below the bottom of the ball valve I8. As the member 28 is raised, the portion 31 engages against the bottom of the ball and elevates the same to a position against the upper valve seat I9 in the position illustrated in Figure 2. As will be understood, in the lower position of the operating member 23, the ball valve I8 is freely supported on its lower valve seat 2| and hence subject to automatic operation as above explained. In the event that the tube 22 were deleted and the ball seats formed directly in the rubber body, as above suggested, the lower tube 21 could also be deleted and the pin 3S mounted directly in the rubber body, or the lower tube 21 could be used, as here shown, and supporting directly in the rubber body in the same manner as the same is here supported in the lower end of tube 22. Should both the tube 22 and the tube 21 be deleted from the design, the member 28 could nevertheless be used by causing the opposite sides 3| and 32 of the loop to engage directly against the opposite sides of the vertical passage in the rubber body. Various other modifications and changes in the construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A drinking fountain attachment for faucets comprising, an elastic water impervious rubber body having a tubular part adapted f-or distention over the tubular spigot end of a faucet, the passage through said tubular part terminating in a bore extending through the body between opposite ends of said body, a metal tube mounted in said bore and having a side port in communication with said passage in said tubular part for admittance of water into said tube, valve seats in said tube above and below said port, and a water now responsive valve mounted in said tube for movement between said seats and operable in a vertical position of said tube to permit the flow of water from the upper end of said tube at a relatively low rate of iiow and exclusively from the lower end of said tube at a relatively higher rate of ow.

2. In a device of the character described, a body adapted for attachment to the discharge end of a faucet and having a passage therethrough disposed in a vertical position of its longitudinal axis in an attached position of said body for discharge of water from the upper and lower ends thereof for drinking and normal faucet purposes, said body being formed with a passage connecting the discharge end of said faucet to said first passage, a pair of vertically spaced valve seats in said first passage. a valve mounted in said passage between said seats, and a spring wire loop member mounted in the lower end of said first passage with the `opposite loop sides thereof resiliently sprung against the side wall of said passage and movable longitudinally in said passage to engage and elevate said valve to the upper of said seats.

3. In a device of the character described, a body adapted for attachment to the discharge end of a faucet and having a therethrough disposed in a vertical position of its longitudinal axis in an attached position of said body for discharge of water from the upper and lower ends thereof for drinking and normal faucet purposes, said body being formed with a passage connecting the discharge end of said faucet to said rst passagaa pair of vertically spaced valve seats in said first passage, a valve mounted in said passage between said seats, and a spring wire loop member mounted in the lower end of said first passage with the opposite loop sides ythereof resiliently sprung against the side wall of said passage and movable longitudinally in said passage to engage and elevate said valve to the upper of said seats, one of said loop sides being curved to spring into and hold said Wire member in elevated position.

4. In a device of the character described, a body adapted for attachmentto the discharge end of a faucet and having a passage therethrough disposed ina vertical position of its l longitudinal axis in an attached position of said body for discharge of water from the upper and lower ends thereof for drinking and normal faucet purposes, said body being formed with a passage connecting the discharge end of said faucet to said first passage, a pair of vertically spaced valve seats in said first passage, a valve mounted in said passage between said seats, a spring wire loop member mounted in the lower end of said first passage with the opposite loop sides thereof resiliently sprung against the side wall of said passage and movable longitudinally in said passage to engage and elevate said valve to the upper of said seats, and a pin extending across said iirst passage below the upper extremity of said loop member and adapted to limit the downward movement of said loop member.

5. In a device of the character described, a body adapted for attachment to the discharge end of a faucet and having a passage therethrough disposed in a vertical position of its longitudinal axis in attached position of said body for discharge of water from the upper and lower ends thereof for drinking and normal faucet purposes, said body being formed with a passage connecting the discharge end of said faucet to said rst passage, a valve seat in said rst passage, a tube mounted in the lower end of said first passage and providing a valve seat at the upper end thereof at a position below said first seat, a valve mounted in said rst passage between said valve seats, a pin carried by said tube across said passage, and a wire member having an inverted looped end portion inserted in said tube with the top of said portion mounted above and confined against lowered longitudinal movement by said pin and movable vertically through said tube to'engage and elevate said valve to said upper seat. n

6. A drinking fountain attachment for faucets comprising, an elastic water impervious rubber body having a hollow cylindrical part adapted for Vertical positioning of the axis thereof and a laterally extending tubular part adapted for distention over the tubular spigot end of a faucet, the passage through said tubular part communieating with the passage through said cylindrical part intermediate the ends of the latter, a metal tube fitted tightly in said cylindrical part and having a side port registering with the passage in said tubular part, valve seats in said tube above and below said port, and a ow responsive valve mounted in said tube for movement between said seats and normally engaging the lower of said seats to permit the flow of water from the upper end of said tube at relatively low rates of flow but being displaced from said lower seat to said upper seat when subjected to a relatively great ow so as to permit such flow to discharge ex clusively from the lower end of said tube.

ARNOLD VAN DOREN WORTHINGTON. 

